Happy Thursday and welcome to my stop on The Game of Hope blog tour hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours! My favorite trilogy, hands-down, is the Josephine B. Trilogy written by Sandra Gulland, and I could not wait to read Hortense’s story.

My Thoughts:

I am a huge Sandra Gulland fan. Her Josephine B. (Bonaparte) trilogy books are some of my favorite historical fiction works. I was thrilled that she would be taking on Josephine’s daughter’s story in The Game of Hope.

Hortense’s story is classified as young adult but is suitable for adults, too. Beginning four short years after the Terror of the French Revolution, Hortense is enrolled in a boarding school. She is talented with music, art, and academics, but she daydreams of Christophe, a military officer and friend of her brother’s.

Hortense’s mother, Josephine, has recently married Napoleon Bonaparte of whom Hortense is not a fan. Her beloved father was beheaded during the Terror, and she sees Napoleon in sharp contrast. If Hortense does not accept Napoleon, what will happen to her future?

Sandra Gulland deftly researches her chosen topics and writes with flawless ease. Hortense’s story is based on her real autobiography, as well as other historical archives.

Hortense is faced with a life she does not want in a time much different than our own. What fate will she be saddled with as a result? Her story is filled with the details of her school days, while it also is firmly entrenched on a backdrop of Napoleon’s rise to power. I loved hearing about Josephine and Napoleon from a different perspective, from that of Hortense, and how her life experiences are shaped by those around her.

Rich in historical details while also being approachable to young adult and adult audiences alike, Game of Hope is yet another solid, enchanting, and enthralling effort from Sandra Gulland.

Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours and Amy Bruno for the invite and to the author for an electronic copy. I also own a physical copy I bought because Gulland is a favorite author.

The Game of Hope
by Sandra Gulland

Paris, 1798. Hortense de Beauharnais is engrossed in her studies at a boarding school for aristocratic girls, most of whom suffered tragic losses during the tumultuous days of the French Revolution. She loves to play and compose music, read and paint, and daydream about Christophe, her brother’s dashing fellow officer. But Hortense is not an ordinary girl. Her beautiful, charming mother Josephine has married Napoleon Bonaparte, soon to become the most powerful man in France, but viewed by Hortense as a coarse, unworthy successor to her elegant father, who was guillotined during the Terror.

Where will Hortense’s future lie?

Inspired by Hortense’s real-life autobiography with charming glimpses of teen life long ago, this is the story of a girl chosen by fate to play a role she didn’t choose.

Praise for The Game of Hope

“Gulland, who’s clearly done her research, includes plenty of documented moments and people from Hortense’s life, which cultivates a rich sense of atmosphere . . . Teen fans of historical fiction fascinated by the period will find plenty to appreciate here.” — Booklist

“Gulland has built a career writing historical fiction for adults … . Her pitch-perfect balance of lush period details and character-driven narrative shines again in The Game of Hope. — Quill & Quire

“[The Game of Hope] captures the essence of the period. It is not just a story about a girl; it is about the time; it is about the people whose lives she touched and about the changes spurned from the revolution. That is what makes it so grand and captivating.” — Cyn’s Workshop Review

About the Author

Sandra Gulland is an American-born Canadian novelist specializing in historical fiction. She is the author of the internationally bestselling trilogy of adult books based on the life of Josephine de Beauharnais Bonaparte, as well as two novels set at the court of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Her books have been published in sixteen countries, translated into thirteen languages, and sold more than a million copies worldwide.

Sandra Gulland’s novels include The Josephine B. Trilogy, The Shadow Queen, Mistress of the Sun, and The Game of Hope.

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a copy of The Game of Hope to one lucky reader! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on October 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US Only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Hi Amy! I am sorry I didn’t comment back earlier, and I can see one more comment from you – both were in my spam box thanks to WordPress, but I hope I have it all fixed now. This author has written several books set in France, and I truly think you’d love them all! She has done her research. Thank you again for stopping by to see me and for linking your site so I can comment back. ♥️

There aren’t as many young adult historical fiction out there as I would like, so this is a lovely surprise! Napoleon is such a fascinating figure and teen-me would have loved this! (And adult-me too :D) And now you’ve got me super curious about the Josephine B trilogy!

The Josephine B. Trilogy is masterful, Kathy. It definitely offers a unique perspective on Napolean, and Josephine had a rich, large life even before he came into the picture. This author researches and works on her books for years. I had been waiting a while for Hortense’s story! ♥️

yeay! I have this book in my library, I was hoping to read in Summer but I couldn’t manage to get to it. I’m so happy to find out another trilogy you liked too, I’ll definitely check out. I’m a historical fiction fan! If you haven’t read Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series, I’d highly recommend that one too. Thank you Jennifer! x

Thanks so much, Umut! I hope you get a chance to read this one and Josephine’s as well. I really appreciate that Lucinda Riley rec because I know I have a book or two from her here, and I need to make sure I read them, especially Seven Sisters! Thanks for stopping in to see me, Umut! ♥️

Oh my, what a story. I have never read any historical fiction about this time in history, but this one looks quite interesting. Great review, you have definitely piqued my interest. You said this is a trilogy? Where does this one fit?

Thanks, Carla! There is a trilogy called the Josephine B. trilogy, and those are books about Josephine Bonaparte’s life from her childhood in Martininque, through her first marriage and the French Revolution and then her marriage to Napoleon. That is a series entirely for adults, and it is impeccable! Then, this book is an off shoot with Hortense’s (Josephine’s daughter) story, and it is young adult. I would recommend starting with the first book in the trilogy and seeing how you like it. For me, Gulland is one of my go-to’s for historical fiction. She spends years writing her books, and it shows. They are beautifully-done. Let me know if you have any other questions. I could talk for days about this author! 😊 I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Carla!